Davis County Holidays

Rapid Sequence Intubation

Providing a secure airway is the first step toward patient survival. Without a sure method to deliver oxygen to the body and eliminate carbon dioxide, patient outcome is uncertain. In the past some critical patients that needed the immediate placement of a breathing tube had to wait until they were transported to a hospital or until an air medical crew could arrive. Other basic, however effective, procedures were used until a more advanced method could be implemented.

With the approval of the Utah State Bureau of Emergency medical systems and in conjunction with the Layton City Fire Department, we have implemented a two year study of the Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) procedure. This technique allows for a breathing tube to be placed in patients that meet a certain criteria providing the most secure airway possible.

The study will explore the outcome on patients who are 16 and older when pre-hospital RSI is indicated and preformed. Training includes a three day advanced/difficult airway course taught by some of the most respected names in the medical industry. The course includes, but is not limited to, recognizing the need for RSI, pharmacology, advanced intubation techniques, advanced airway adjuncts and surgical airway techniques. The study will be executed with the aid of advanced video airway devices.

The governing board for the RSI program has limited the use of this procedure to the most experienced and knowledgeable paramedics on each department. These paramedics are part of the Davis County “Advanced Airway Team”. When the hospital is too far away and an air team is too far out, all patients can now have the benefit of advanced airway techniques.

The Sheriff’s Office is constantly considering innovative ways of improving patient care. This is only one way our paramedic program is dedicated to providing the most optimum patient care available.